Portable air duct cleaning system and method of use

ABSTRACT

A portable air duct cleaning system comprises a cleaning assembly, including a hose, motor and brush; portable power and control box; and remote control. The cleaning assembly may include a vacuum system connected to the hose, having an opening, with a motor driven brush unit positioned near the opening for vacuuming particulate matter dislodged by the brush unit while the brush unit traverses the air duct. The vacuum system may be part of a carpet cleaning system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable air duct cleaning system including a hose, motor and brush configuration, power and control box and remote control.

BACKGROUND

Cleaning air ducts associated with heating and cooling systems is beneficial to prevent dust, toxins, pollutants and other particulate matter from being circulated through a structure to the detriment of persons within the structure. For example, air ducts may be home to vermin droppings and mold which when circulated through the structure may cause health issues with the inhabitants. Thus, cleaning air ducts is one way of preventing the circulation of such pollutants. Cleaning the air ducts may also improve the efficiency of the subject heating ad cooling system. Conventionally, expensive, cumbersome systems have been used to clean air ducts.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to design an inexpensive, easy-to-handle system for cleaning air ducts. Advantageously, the system should be compatible with other home care products such as carpet cleaning systems.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention an air duct cleaning system comprises a cleaning assembly, including a hose, motor and brush; portable power and control box; and remote control. The cleaning assembly may include a vacuum system connected to the hose, having an opening, with a motor driven brush unit positioned near the opening for vacuuming particulate matter dislodged by the brush unit while the brush unit traverses the air duct. That is, as the motor driven brush contacts the inner walls of the air duct, particulate matter is dislodged and vacuumed by the hose and directed to a collection member (e.g., Truck Mounted Carpet Cleaning machine). In one embodiment, the portable power and control box can be a 120 volt to 12 volt @ 25 Amp DC Power Supply having an electronic control board and control interface. A remote control is also provided to allow remote control of the motor driven brush unit via the portable power and control box. In one embodiment, the system is adapted to connect to a carpet cleaning system which utilizes a truck-mounted power vacuum. In other words, the carpet cleaning system can easily be converted into an air duct cleaning system by connecting the portable air duct system to a truck-mounted vacuum system of the carpet cleaning system. This allows carpet cleaning system operators to offer dual services to customers without extensive additional expense or training for the operator.

Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a portable air duct cleaning system according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a brush assembly of the portable air duct cleaning system according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a control box of the portable air duct cleaning system according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the connection between the brush assembly and control box of the portable air duct cleaning system according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a remote control unit for operating the portable air duct cleaning system according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a dust damper device that sprays water into the vacuum hose for a truck-mounted vacuum which according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates steps for using the system according to the embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates specifications associated with a system according to the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed.

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable air duct cleaning system which is adapted for easy connection to a vacuum system (e.g., carpet cleaning vacuum system). Cleaning the air ducts of a heating and cooling system is accomplished by: 1) inserting a motor driven brush assembly and hose into a subject air duct; 2) activating a vacuum and brush assembly causing the brushes to rotate and strike the inner walls of the air duct while simultaneously vacuuming the dislodged particulate matter via a hose attached to the vacuum system; and 3) moving the brush assembly along a length of the air duct.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate various views of the portable air duct system 100. FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the system 100 including a hose 105, brush motor 110, brush unit 115, power box 120 and brush motor power cord 125. The brush assembly comprises a brush motor 110 and brush unit 115. The brush motor 110 is driven by power delivered via an insulated electrical cord (not visible) extending through the hose 105 which may be a crush proof vacuum hose. The brush motor 110 is mounted to a flexible steel shaft 117 allowing the brush motor 110 and brush unit 115 to navigate through corners and bends in the air duct. In one embodiment, the flexible steel shaft 117 is mounted at a second end 121 of the hose 105 to a cuff 122 around the open end 121 of the hose 105. An insulation layer 116 of silicon rubber tape or other material protects the brush motor power cord 125 and flexible steel shaft 117 and also binds the two together outside of the hose 105. A first end 118 (shown in FIG. 4) of the hose 105 is adapted to connect to a vacuum system via a vacuum hose 119 (shown in FIG. 4). The open end 121 of the hose 105 is positioned to capture particulate matter dislodged by the rotating brush unit 115. The cuff 122 has rounded edges to aid in directing the dislodged particulate matter into the hose 105.

In one embodiment, the hose 105 is a crushproof hose with a 1.5 inch to 2 inch diameter; the brush motor 110 is an outrunner brushless motor; and the brush unit 115 is a Flex-E-Bristle brush that self-adjusts from 4 inches to 12 inches, 4 inches to 18 inches, to accommodate most air ducts. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other types of hoses, brush motors and brush units may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the power box 120 with lid 123 in an open position. As shown, the power box 120 is a 120 volt to 12 volt @ 25 Amp DC power supply encased in a waterproof casing or housing 124. Seal 126 contained within circumscribing cavity 127 of the lid 123 encases a portion of an elevated ridge 128 when the lid 123 is in a closed position. The seal 126 overlapping the elevated ridge 128 prevents water or other liquids from entering the housing 124 when the lid 123 is closed. The power box 120 includes a control board or panel 130 supporting a vacuum power plug receptacle 131, on/off switch 132, brush power plug receptacle 133, cooling fans 134, remote control override switch 136 related to the reverse/forward operation and remote control override switch 137 related to the brush motor on/off functions. A remote control 140 is attachable to the power control board or panel 130 of the power box 120. In one embodiment, hook and loop fasteners 138 provide means for attaching the remote control 140 to the control board 130 of the power box 120. Other attachment means may be used as well.

FIG. 4 shows the brush motor power cord 125 and vacuum power cord 129 plugged into the power box 120. The power box 120 drives the brush motor 110 and vacuum system. In one embodiment, the vacuum system is installed in a van or truck and conventionally used as part of a carpet cleaning system. In other words, the vacuum system vacuums debris and/or water from a carpet during the carpet cleaning process. Accordingly, it is an easy transition for a carpet cleaning system to be transformed into an air duct cleaning system allowing the business owner to offer additional services to customers.

FIG. 5 shows the remote control 140 which includes a first control pad 141 for controlling the state of the brush motor and a second control pad 142 for controlling the rotational direction of the brush unit 115. Other control pads, such as a control pad for controlling rotational speed, may be incorporated on the remote control 140 as well. In one embodiment, the remote control 140 utilizes infrared signals to communicate with a receiver or sensor (not shown) integrated in the power box 120. The sensor output then communicates with a controller or similar device to control the brush motor 110. Other types of signals (e.g., RF or electromagnetic) may be used by the remote control 140. FIG. 6 shows an optional dust damper 150 integrated into a hose member 175 to prevent dust re-entrainment and equipment damage. The hose member 175 includes a vinyl hose cuff 176 on one end to and a chrome coupler 177 on the other end for connection to the hose 105 and hose 119 thereby integrating it in the portable air duct cleaning system 100.

FIG. 7 shows a series of steps associated with use of the air duct cleaning system according to the embodiments of the present invention. At 155, the truck-mounted vacuum is turned on; at 160, the hose 105 of the air duct cleaning system is then connected to hose 119 extending from the truck-mounted vacuum; and at 165, the system is ready to use in the manner described above to clean the air duct. While a truck-mounted carpet cleaning vacuum system 166 is shown, those skilled in the art will recognize that other vacuum systems may be connected to the air duct cleaning system of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows a table 200 listing various system components and corresponding specifications.

In one embodiment, the entire portable vacuum system according to the embodiments of the present invention can be contained and transported in a sewn poly zipper bag or the like. Advantageously, when used with the truck-mounted carpet cleaning vacuum, the system takes up very little space on the carpet cleaning truck.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1. An air duct cleaning system comprising: a rotatable brush unit connected to a brush motor configured to drive said brush unit; a power box comprising: a control board; a power source; a vacuum power plug receptacle; and brush power plug receptacle; a hose having a first and second end, said rotatable brush unit positioned adjacent to said first end of said hose and powered by a power cord extending from said power box to said brush motor through said hose, said second end of said hose attachable to a vacuum source configured to draw particulate matter dislodged by said brush unit from an air duct into said hose and to a particulate container remote from a said air duct.
 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a remote control unit configured to control the brush motor via a receiver integrated in said power box.
 3. The system of claim 2 further comprising means for attaching said remote control to said power box.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein said vacuum source is truck-mounted.
 5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a flexible member which connects said brush motor and brush unit to said hose.
 6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a cuff mounted to said first end of said hose, said flexible member connected to said cuff.
 7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a waterproof box configured to contain said power source.
 8. A system for cleaning an air duct comprising: a brush unit, having multiple self-adjusting brushes, and brush motor formed of a single unit, said brush motor configured to drive said brush unit; a power source contained within a housing, said power source adapted to power said brush unit and a vacuum source; a power control board contained within said housing and including a vacuum power plug receptacle and brush power plug receptacle; a hose to which said brush unit and brush motor is connected, said brush unit and brush motor connected to a hose cuff at a first hose end using a flexible connector; and a power cord extending from said power box to said brush motor through said hose, said second end of said hose attachable to a vacuum source configured to draw particulate matter dislodged by said brush unit from an air duct into said hose and to a particulate container remote from a said air duct.
 9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a remote control unit configured to control the brush motor via a receiver integrated within said power source housing.
 10. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for attaching said remote control to said power control board.
 11. The system of claim 8 wherein said vacuum source is truck-mounted.
 12. The system of claim 8 wherein said flexible connector is flexible steel. 